Scaffold



W. BUCKLES Oct. 10, 1944.

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Oct. 10, 1944. w. BUCKLES S CAFFOLD Filed May 29, 1942 4 sneets sne t 2 INVENTOR. Mum/v fizz/(4&5.

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Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCAFFOLD William Buckles, South Bend, Ind.

Application May 29, 1942, Serial No. 445,003

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in scaffolds.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, .a scafiold which may be assembled and disassembled easily, quickly and level-by-level,

A further object is to provide a scaffold wherein the use of nails may be reduced to a minimum and wherein nails are used primarily for unstressed positioning purposes and for bracing.

Afurther object is to provide a scaffold wherein simple metal fixtures serve to firmly and posi tively interconnect the various posts, platform supports, and other wood parts, are readily removable therefrom, and reduce to a minimum the need for bracing members.

A further object is to provide novel means for firmly interconnecting sections of vertical posts positioned to extend one above another in a manner to increase the strength and firmness of the interconnection as the stress exerted thereupon increases.

A further object is to provide a wood scafiold with metal interconnecting and supporting members having bearing surfaces provided with sharp edges which are adapted to increasingly penetrate the wood parts engaged thereby for increased anchorage therewithas the stresses applied to the scaffold increase.

A further object is to provide a wood scafiold with metal parts serving to frictionally grip and. interconnect Wood parts and provided with sharp edges engaging the parts and biting therein as said parts shift to improve their anchorage with the parts and to increase the friction between the parts as the same are subjected to stresses which tend to shift one relative to another.

' Other objects will be apparent from the description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View of the scaffold in elevation.

Fig. 2 is anend view of a double post scaffold.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a single post scaffold.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of a double post scaffold illustrating the wheeling and pass-up levels and an intermediate hopping plank level.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one arrangement for clamping a platform supporting member to a post.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating an arrangement for interconnecting sections of an uprightpost.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of one form of clamp usedin Figs. 5 and 6.

upper end thereof. This clamp iron having a horizontal leg 23 and a vertical leg of .8 inches.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the clamp taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamp used in Fig. 5.

Fig, 10 is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating another arrangement for clamping a platform supporting member to a post.

Fig. '11 is an enlarged View of a clamp used in Fig. 10. c

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line lZ-IZ of Fig, 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a clamp used in Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating another arrangement for clamping a platform supporting member to a post.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamp used in Fig. 14, taken on line I 5-[5 of Fig. 16.

Fig/16 is a sectional View of one part of the clamp shown in Fig. 15, taken on line vIii-l6 .of Fig. 15.

Fig. 1'7 is a face view of the other part of the clamp shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the bracket used in Fig. 4.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary perspective View of a wheeling level supporting member.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a hopping level supporting member.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 2| designates vertical wood posts. These posts are each supported by mud pads or hearing membersZZ.

Where the required height of the post exceeds the length of available post sections, the sections may be spliced as illustrated in Fig. 6. For this purpose a clamp, as best illustrated in Figs. 15-17 is secured to the lower section spaced below the includes an angle 2.4. The angle iron is of a length in the order The leg 24 is provided with bolt receiving apertures adjacent each end and with a plurality of sharp weld spots or spurs 25 positioned between the bolt holes. The other part of the clamp constitutes a U-shaped steel plate having a base 26 parallel opposed "legs 21 and out-turned aligned flanges 28. The .U-Jshaped clamp part is of .a size to fit .snugly around the post, such as a 4 x 4, with the legs .27

preferably slightly shorter than 4 inches, whereby the outer faces of flanges 28 preferably extend inwardly from the face of the post against which leg 24 of the angle iron: bears. The inner face of the base 26 is provided with a plurality of sharp weld gagementwith the post sections.

spots or spurs 29 The flanges 28 are provided with apertures registering withthe apertures in 1 leg 24 to receive bolts 36 by means of which the parts are clamped together around the post. As

the nuts 3| on'bolts 30 are drawn tight, the weld thus the clamp is firmly anchored in desired position on the post. I

The upper post section to be spliced to the lower post section mounting the clamp described above is then positioned with its lower end bear- ,5 ing on horizontal leg 23 of the angle iron, and a pair of clamps 32, best illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,

1 spots25 and 29 are forced into the post, and r are used to connect the sections. The clamps, 32

are formed of a metal bar bent to rectangular shape, with its ends welded together. The width of. the opening'in clamp 32 is substantially equal to the thickness of a single post 2|, and the length of said opening is slightly greater than the com- ,bined thicknesses of two'juxtaposed post sections. Th inner edges of opposite ends of clamp of downturned parallel terminal arms 41 each having sharpened lower inner edges 48. The anchor clamp ispositionedwith its base 45 bearing against the side of post 2| opposite that engaged by the 'putlogs, its arms 46 alongside opposite faces of post 2| andabove member 36, and its terminal arms 41 alongside the outer face .of member 36 so that their edges48 may bite into said member. It will be observed that clamp 32 v holds the block 42 and the member 36 positively at desired elevation, blocks 39 hold said member against longitudinal sliding movement relative i to the post, and the anchor clamp prevents lateral separation of said member from the post. The blocks 36 and the anchor clamp also serve to hold the member 36 perpendicular to the post.

Planks 49 are sup-ported by adjacent members.

Another arrangement for supporting a platform supporting member on a post is illustrated in Fig.

10. This construction utilizes a post clamp of the construction illustrated in Figsrll and'12 32 are sharp and rough at 33.- C1amps32 encircle the ends of; the post sections tobe spliced and aredriven to inclined position to bring'their op posite horizontal sharp end edges in biting en A nail 34 is driven into one post section to support the upper end of each clamp, and a nail 35' is driven into the 1 f opposite face of the other post section above the lower end of each claim, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The nails hold the clamp until initial reaction to application. of stress occurs. The use of two clamps, firmly applied to the posts and spaced apart as shown, serves to securely splice the post sections. The application of stress to the resultant post assembly serves to cause the edges 33 ofthe clamps to bite into theposts deeper and thus increase the splicing and clamping effect or I, action of the clamps.

support planks at vari l -ous working levels are secured to the posts-2| at desired levels. Thus, referring'to Fig, '3, which 11- lustrates a double pole scaffold; members 36 sup- Horizontal members to port planks at wheeling levels, members 31 support planks at pa'ss-up-levels, and members 38 support hoppingplanks. The platform supportingmembers are preferably of the construction illustrated in Fig. 19, which shows wheeling level supporting member 36. Two or more blocks 33 are secured to the supporting member 36 in pairs spaced apart a distance equal to'thethickness of po'sts2|. Each block 39 has a central cut-out 46 formed in one edge thereof extending transverselyof the member'36 and an aperture 4| is formed l in the member 36 in substantially centered rela-' tion toeach cut-out 46; I Y

One formof interconnection between platform supporting member and post is illustrated in Fig.

5. A wedge block 42 having a lower inclined outer surface 43 is placed at desired elevation on post 2|, and a clamp '32 is employed to secure the block to'the post by means of securing members 44, such as nails" or staples, as explained above. Member. 36 is then positioned upon the upper end of block 42 inengagement with post 2|. Blocks 39 are positioned at opposite sides of post 2| to prevent lengthwise movement of the member 36.

.An anchor clamp, best illustrated in Fig. 9, is em- :ployedto anchor the member 36 to the post, The anchor clamp is formed from a metal bar bent in substantially U-shape to provide a base '45 of a length slightly greater than the thickness of post fll'repa rloi p ed para 'a msw, a d a p i I the post.

which is formed from a steel sheet bent to form an upperinclinedportion 56, a horizontal shoulder portion 5| and a lower inclined. bearing portion 52 substantially perpendicular to portion'50 and of substantially triangular formterminating in a reduced lower end having'a sharpened edge 53. A nail hole 54 is formed inportion 52 spaced slightly .above edge 53. Upper inclined-portion 5|! has a rectangular opening 55 formed therein to fit snugly. around post 2| when shoulder portion 5| is positioned horizontally, said opening extending to the line of bend between portions and 5|, as illustrated in Fig. 12; The post clamp is positioned at desired elevation on-the post, and nails are driven into the post at nail hole 54 and opening 55 to initially position the clamp on the post. Thereafter, as stress is exerted upon the clamp, edge 53 bites into the wood and the upper'e'dge of opening 55 engages the post more firmly, to increase the purchase of the clamp on supported on clampshoulder 5|, with blocks 39 engaging opposite faces of post 2|. .An anchor clamp 56, illustrated in Fig. 13, is passed through the aperture 4| in member 36 and engaged with post 2|. Anchor clamp 56 has an elongated shank f including a screw threaded end portion 51 and a rigid perpendicular arm 58 at its opposite end whose inner terminal edge is sharpened at 59.

Arm 58 bears against post 2|- and the shank of the clamp extends alongside the post and through aperture4| of'member 36. A nut 6|] is threaded angle iron 23-24 and U-plate 26--28,.securedon the end of the shank and cooperates with a lock washer t'o lock the parts. V r

Another'method for securing a platform supporting member to a post is illustrated in Fig. 14. A clamp as illustrated in Fig. 15, and comprising together by bolts, 30, isclamped upon post.2|.

Platform supporting member 36 is supported on the angle iron at angle leg 23. An anchor clamp .56 serves to secure the member 36 'to the post.

It will be understood that the combination of the clamps for supporting and anchoring the 7 platform supporting members to the, post is illustrative only, and that the respectivesupporting and anchoring clampsmay also 'be'usecLin other combinations.

Referring to FigsfZ and 4, it will be observed that wheeling platform supporting member 36 is provided with two spaced pairs of blocks '39 which fit around spaced posts in a double post scaffold, and which cooperate with suitable clamps to secure opposedends of the member Platform supporting member 36 is 36. Pass u'p platform supportingmemb'er- 31'is of shorter length than wheeling platform supporting member 36, and the blocks 39' thereof are preferably positioned adjacent one end thereof. This necessitates the use 'of a brace 6| of th construct-ion best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 18 to support the elongated projecting portion of the member 31. Brace 6! is formed from a metal bar or pipe havingan angularly bent upper end portion 62 and an angularly bent lower portion 63 extending substantially perpendicular toportion -62. A sharp metal spur- 64 projects from the upper end of portion '63. The outer end of member 31 is preferably provided with a U-shaped metal reinforcing sheeth 65. Upper brace portion 62 is ibolted at 66 to'the outer sheathed end of member 31- Lower portion 63 of brace 65 has a 'nail-receivingopening whereby a nail 67 may position said portion 63 against post 2! so that spur 64 will impale said ,of sharp weld points or spurs 68 for impaling planks 4-9 placed thereon, which permits use of the member 33 as a narrow scaffold level which may be raised to any desired height.

In erecting the scaffold, the individual posts are erected and suitably braced until the first level has been erected. Thereafter, cross-braces 69 may be secured at the ends of the scaffold and about three or four bays apart in long scaffolds, and ribbon braces between the crossbraced posts will be ample in a double post scaffold in view of the effective bracing obtained from the wheeling platform supporting members 36. In single post scaffolds, the same cross and ribbon braces may be used, and the top and center of each post may be secured to the structure by tie braces II. If the scaffold is erected in advance of the structure, the posts may then be anchored to the ground by braces 12.

It will be observed from the above the scaffold utilizes a few metal fixtures which solidly anchor and secure the parts, and only a few nails are required for positioning purposes. The

fixtures are essentially clamps which take the l full stress exerted upon the nails which are merely driven to hold the parts in position until the stress reaction occurs. The fixtures are readily applied in assembling the scaffold, relocated level-by-level, and disconnected or removed in wrecking the scaffold. All of these fixtures act with a combined clamping and impaling effect, and take stresses in a manner to increase their clamping and impaling action as applied stresses increase.

The limitation in the use of nails facilitates speedy erection, relocation of platform levels, and wrecking, and the positioning function of the nails avoids necessity of driving them completely into the wood, so their stripping. or removal in wrecking is simple and easily accomplished. Also, it will be noted that after wrecking, the various wood parts will be substantially clean and free from nails, etc., so that their re-use in a new scaffold is possible without extensive stripping.

-Attention is directed tothe fact that the combination and relation "of the parts as above described eliminates the use of so-called ledgers or ribbonswhich are conventionally securely nailed to the scaffold posts at each level and which extend completely around the building for the purpose of supporting conventional putlogsp" While the use of the platform supporting members has beenillustrated and described only for plank supporting purposes, they may also be used as derrick arms and the like by use of the same clamps and cooperating parts discussed above. 1

I claim: 7

.1 A scaffold clamp for supporting a horizontal member on a post, comprising a'U -shaped member having laterally outwardly bent end portions,x.an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle iron and end portions in. post embracing relation, a portion of said angle iron projecting horizontally outwardly from said post, and post engaging projections 'on the post engaging faces of said member and angle iron.

2. In a scaffold including an upright post and a horizontal member carried by said post intermediate the height thereof, a U-shaped member having laterally outwardly bent end portions, an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle iron and end portions in post embracing relation with a portion of said angle iron projecting horizontally outwardly from said post to support said horizontal member, post engaging projections on the faces of said U-shaped member and angle iron which engage said post, and a clamp spaced vertically from said angle iron and releasably anchoring said horizontal member to said post.

3. In a scaffold including an upright post and a horizontal member carried by said post intermediate the height thereof, a U-shaped member having laterally outwardly bent end portions, an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle iron and end portions in post embracing relation with a portion of said angle iron projecting horizontally outwardly from said post to support said horizontal member, post engaging projections in the inner faces of said angle iron and U-shaped member, and a clamp adjustably carried by said horizontal member and having a horizontal shank extendin alongside said upright and a perpendicularly bent end portion engaging the surface of the post opposite that engaged by said horizontal member.

4. In a scaffold including an upright post and a horizontal member carried by said post intermediate the height thereof, a U-shaped member having laterally outwardly bent end portions, an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle iron and end portions in post embracing relation with a portion of said angle iron projecting horizontally outwardly from said post to support said horizontal member, post engaging projections on the inner faces of said angle iron and U-shaped member, an L-shaped clamp extending through said horizontal member to releasably anchor said horizontal member to said post, and means for drawing up said clamp.

5. In a scaffold including an upright post and a horizontal member carried by said post inter-- mediate the height thereof, a U-shaped member having laterally outwardly bent end portions, an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle iron and end portions in post embracing relation with a portion of said angle iron projecting horizontally outwardly from said post to 4 v V support said'ihorizontalmember, post engaging projections QnLtheinner faces of said angle iron and U-shaped member, ;a pair of blocks secured to said; horizontal member. and j posie itioned alongside opposite faces ofsaid post, and a releasable clamp anchoring said member to v said post. in spaced relation above'said angle 6. Ina scaffoldincluding anupright post and v a horizontal member carried by said post intermediate the height thereof; a U-shaped mem-v "ber having laterally outwardly bent endcporr tions, an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle iron and. 'end portion in clamping relation on said :post, a portion ofsaid angle iron projecting horizontally outwardly from said post to support said horizontal member, post engaging projections onthe inner faces of said angle iron and U-shaped member, a pair ofblooks secured to said horizontal member and positioned alongside-opposite faoesof said post, one of said istering with a passage in said horizontal mom-- her, and a releasable L-shaped olamp having Q a shank mountedin saidnotch and passageand anend portion anchored at said post. V

v 7."In a scaffold including an upright post and a'horizontal member carried by said post inter 3 ing horizontally outwardly from said post to sup- 7 mediate the height thereof, a U-shaped member having laterally outwardly bent end portions, an angle iron, draw bolts connecting said angle] iron and end portion in clamping relationto said post; a portion of said angle iron projectport said horizontal member, post engaging projections: on the inner faces of said angle iron and, .U-shaped member, a releasable clanup spaced verticallyrfrom said angle iron and anchoring, said horizontal member to said post,

, and a diagonal brace carried by and projectblocks 'having a. notch in its innertface reg- V ing downwardly from said. horizontal member and having a sharp spur at its lower end adapted to pierce said post;

WILLIAM BUCKLES. I 

